Baby Carrier Rocker

ABSTRACT

An improved portable baby carrier rocking system in which allows almost all existing car seat carriers, baby carriers and baby bassinets to be attached to it. This baby carrier rocker mounts underneath the baby carrier and attaches to it by a simple strap. This baby carrier rocker can be battery operated or powered by an external power supply. It has different rocking speed settings and it will rock any bottom shaped carrier profile from flat to curved. An electric motor drives an offset link in which raises and lowers four supporting arms underneath the baby carrier, thus rocking the carrier back and forth from its center pivoting position. This baby carrier rocker has extendable and retractable legs in which flips out for greater rocker stability. Its novel compact size makes this rocker easily transportable and can be used in small confined areas like in restaurants, camping tents, in crowded rooms, areas etc.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application of Applicant'sprovisional application Ser. No. 61/401,408 filed on 13 Aug. 2010.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Existing baby swings and rockers today have several problems in whichlimits their usage or accessibility. They are either large in size inwhich makes them difficult to carry, occupies too much floor area, orthey cannot suite most existing car seat carriers, baby carriers, orbaby bassinets. The basic swing is a very useful and important devicefor babies and is used in almost every baby's household. The problemtoday is being able to bring this rocking action to a tight locationlike at a restaurant, in a camping tent or trailer or in a tight publicarea. Also to have it small in size in order to be able to carry it onyou in a small bag, thus leaving your arms free. Most rocking orswinging apparatus are large in size and many do not accept all typesand styles of existing car seat and baby carriers. This is also aproblem due to many families owning more than one type of baby carrier.Also today portable baby bassinets are becoming more popular and thereare few existing methods for rocking them with a portable device.

Some existing so called “portable” swings or rockers are designed thesame as the original larger common swings, but made smaller. Some ofthese designs do fold partly, but normally very little. Commonly the twoswing side frames fold together. All these folding swings normally donot accept third party baby carriers or bassinets. They either do have abuilt in one, in which is big and balky, or they can only accept theirown brand name type. U.S. Pat. No. 7,037,205 B1 and U.S. Pat. No.6,857,966 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,862 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,994B1.

There have been a few other types of rockers such as ones that have amovable platform in which one end is fixed and the other end moves upand down. This does not produce a “rocking” affect as you're onlylifting one end up and down. To achieve a true rocking motion, both endsshould move up and down opposite to each other. U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,806B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,949 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,731 and U.S. Pat.No. 4,656,680 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,080.

Another existing system is by gliding a flat surface horizontal to thefloor, thus a back and forth motion. Again, this is not a “rocking”motion as with this novel invention here.

This new novel idea, rocks the baby seat carrier or bassinet fromunderneath, pivoting around a centre point, at the centre of the babycarrier, rocking it equally in both directions in an up and down motion.

The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of theinvention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrativeof some of the more prominent features and applications of the intendedinvention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying thedisclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the inventionwithin the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and afuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to thesummary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferredembodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by theclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the after mentioned problems and difficulties are obviatedby the present invention. This is a novel baby carrier rocker in witchall types of baby carriers and bassinets attach to the top of it and itwill rock it back and forth at different predetermined speeds. It issmall in size, easily portable, and is stable due to its folding andretractable legs.

Therefore it's among the primary objectives of this invention to bemounted underneath and to accept existing car seats, baby carriers andmost portable baby bassinets.

A second object of this invention is to be physically as small in sizeas possible for easily carried and transported. Also to occupy the leastamount as space when operating in small or restricted space areas.

A third objective of this present invention is to have its legs andattachments easily foldable without the use of any tools and/or theremoval of any pieces.

A forth objective of this invention is for there to be no adjustmentsnecessary to adapt for different baby carrier styles and configurations.

A fifth object of this rocking device is to maintain a minimum babycarrier height above the rocking surface.

A sixth object is to rock the baby carrier from its centre position andnot from just one end, thus creating a natural up and down rockingmotion.

Another objective is for this rocking device to accept all types ofcarrier bottom profiles, regardless if its curved or straight in nature.

Still another objective of this invention is not to have any overheadobstructions above the carrier in order to have full access and maximumvisibility of the baby.

A last objective is to have several predetermined rocking speed settingsand to be able to accept rechargeable batteries or regular batteriesand/or from an external plug in power supply or from a car batterysystem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, with respect to its organization and manner of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best beunderstood by reference to the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a general front-side isometric view of the invention with atypical baby seat carrier attached.

FIG. 2 is a front-side isometric view of the invention in its closed andfolded position.

FIG. 3 is a front-side isometric view of the invention in its openposition.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the invention with a typical baby seat carrierattached to it.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view with a cutout showing the insides and driveof this invention.

FIG. 6A is a side view showing how the bottom of a typical curved babyseat carrier rests and is supported on top of the two LH. And RH. Arms.

FIG. 6B is a side view showing how the bottom of a notched out babycarrier with a flat profile bottom is sitting and being supported by theLH. And RH. Arms.

FIG. 6C shows an isometric bottom profile view of a typical baby carriersitting on rubber grip pads.

FIG. 7 shows an isometric bottom view of a typical baby carrier withVelcro pads adhered to its bottom profile and to the LH. And RH. Arms.

FIG. 8A shows an isometric view of the invention with an add on babybassinet support bracket attached to the top of the LH. And RH. Arms.

FIG. 8B shows a side view of the invention with a typical baby bassinetattached to its bassinet support bracket to the top of it.

FIG. 8C shows an isometric view of FIG. 8B.

FIG. 9A shows a top and side view of a typical Bassinet support frame inits extended position.

FIG. 9B shows an isometric view of the Bassinet frame in the half wayfolded position for storage.

FIG. 9C shows another version of an isometric view of a Bassinetcollapsible frame with pivoting links.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a typical baby seat carrier seat 15,attached to the top of the invention of the baby carrier rocker. Thebaby seat carrier 15 sits on and being supported by four swivel arms 8and 9. A strap 13, attached to the two strap slots 50 on the two sidesof the rocker plate 27, are placed around the baby seat carrier seat 15,and through its two existing buckle slots 41 and connected together by acam buckle 28. Any other kind of attachment device could be used insteadof using the cam buckle 28. This strap 13 then is tightened, and thusfixing the [carrier seat] baby seat carrier 15 to the four arms 8 and 9below. Another adjustable strap combination not shown here, could be toadd a strap from the front of the roller plate 27, to the front of thebaby seat carrier 15, and another strap from the rocker plate 27 to therear of the baby seat carrier 15 for greater stability and security. Thebaby carrier rocker has two extendable front legs 3, and two side legs 5for added stability to this rocking system shown here in itsextended/operating position. There is a power on/off switch 19 mountedon the side of this baby carrier rocker that has three positions inwhich two different rocking cycle rates could be selected. Any type ofselector switch or Potentiometer could be used with more speed settingsinstead of this switch 19. Beside this on/off switch 19, there is apower jack 22. This power jack 22 is used to accept external powersources, such as but not limited to wall transformers, power adaptors,car cigarette power outlets and remote battery supplies.

FIG. 2, shows an isometric view of the baby carrier rocker in itsfolded/collapsed position. Here the side legs 5 are folded into the sideof the frame 1. Then the two front legs 3 are folded backwards aroundthe center axis of the fix front leg pin 4, into the frame 1 as shown.The leg notch 42 in the front leg 3, slides inside the leg notch 42 inthe side leg 5, thus preventing the side leg 5 from accidentally foldingoutwards during transport.

Both the LH. 9 Arms and the RH. Arms 8, swivel around the center axis ofthe arm pins 11. These arms 8 and 9 are locked into place by a clampblock 12 located in between them. The clamp block 12 is slid upwards byplacing the tip of your finger inside of the notch 51, thus allowing thearms 8 and 9 to rotate around the arm pin 11. Then the clamp block 12 ispressed back down against the rocker plate 27, thus binding the arms 8and 9 into position. Each arm 8 and 9 does have a rubber grip pad 10adhered to the top of them. These grip pads 10 will come into contactwith the baby seat carrier 15 as shown in FIG. 1. The rocker plate 27,does rock back and fourth along the center axis of the rocker plate pin24. These two rocker plate pins 24, opposite to each other, are rigidlyattached to the frame 1.

FIG. 3, shows an isometric view of the baby carrier rocker in its open,operational position. Here the two front legs 3 are pivoted around thefront leg pin 4, to its forward position. Then the side legs 5 arepivoted outwards to 90 degrees to the frame 1. Other obvious methods ofextending these legs could be used such as sliding them outwards orremoving them and snapping or fastening them into position. Then the twoclamp blocks 12 are lifted upwards, by placing the tip of your fingerinside of the notch 51, away from the rocker plate 27, thus allowing allfour arms 8 and 9 to rotate outwards around each arm pin 11respectively. Once these arms 8 and 9 are in there outwards,perpendicular position with the rocker plate 27, the two clamp blocks 12are then pressed downwards making contact to the rocker plate 27. Thesefour arms 8 and 9 are now locked into position. Other methods ofextending and locking the four arms 8 and 9 could be used, like snappingthem into position; sliding them; having them removable or fasteningthem into either the open or closed position. The general concept stillremains the same of being able to extend the arms 8 and 9 outwards thenbeing able to collapse them again.

FIG. 4, shows a rear side view of FIG. 3. A notched out baby carrier 43is attached by the strap 13 to the four arms 8 and 9.

The rocker plate 27, pivots around the two rocker pin 24. This rockingaction raises and lowers both ends of the rocker plate 27, as shown bythe rocker angle 45.

This rocking action will in turn also rock the notched out baby carrier43 back and fourth. Under the frame 1, there is a clearance 46, in whichonly the two front legs 3 and the side legs 5 do make contact with thesupporting surface 47. This clearance 46 allows the supporting surface47 to be uneven, or not perfectly flat. Also this clearance 46 ensuresthat both the front legs 3 and side legs 5 are in contact with thesupporting surface 47 for maximum stability. Both ends of the straps 13are rigidly fixed to the rocker plate 27 through the strap slot 50.

FIG. 5, shows a breakaway isometric view of the baby carrier rockerinvention. Here it's in its open, operational configuration with all itslegs 3 and 5, and its arms 8 and 9 in the outwards, extended position.Inside shown is an electric gear motor 20, in which is mounted to itsmotor support 18 in which is mounted to its base 2. The base 2 is thebottom of this invention. At the rear of the base 2, there is a batterycover 7 in which is removable. This battery cover 7, retains theremovable battery pack 23 in which is housed inside of the frame 1. Thisbattery pack 23 can be removed for recharging or for batteryreplacement. The motor 20 rotates at a predetermined output speed thelift ring 16. The lift ring 16 is fixed to the output shaft of the motor20. As the lift ring 16 rotates, a fixed lift ring pin 48 also rotatesat a pre-determined distance from the center axis of the motor 20 outputshaft. The yoke 49 pivots around the center axis of the lift ring pin48. As the lift ring 16 rotates, the yoke 49 will move upwards anddownwards, as it will in turn move the lift pin 14 also upwards anddownwards accordingly. The lift pin 14 is fixed to the rocker plate 27,thus when the lift pin 14 moves up and downwards, the rocker plate 27will also lift upwards and downwards, through the center axis of the tworocker pins 24. In turn this movement will create a controlled rockingaction of the rocker plate 27 and its four arms 8 and 9.

The speed of this rocking action is determined by its predetermined orvariable speed setting of its switch 19. Also there is a currentlimiting device with in the circuit in order to safety cut the power tothe motor 20 if this invention should get jammed or should tilt over forany reason.

FIG. 6A, shows the side view of a typical baby seat carrier seat 15,sitting on top of both the LH. Arm 9 and the RH arm 8. Both of these LH.Arm 9 and RH. Arm 8 has a rubber grip pad 10 adhered to them. These twoarms 8 and 9 have a sloped top surface to better match the curved rockerbottom profile 33. These grip pads 10 help increase the friction, thusreducing the slippage between the rocker bottom 33 and the two arms 8and 9.

FIG. 6B, show a side view of another style of a typical notched out babycarrier 43. The principle is the same as in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C, shows an isometric view of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7, here shows another method of preventing a typical baby seatcarrier 15 from sliding on top of the four arms 8 and 9. Here shows abottom isometric view of a typical baby seat carrier seat 15, over topof the LH. Arm 9 and the RH. arm 8. Both of these arms 9 and 8 do have alayer of hook Velcro 25 adhered to the top of them. A piece of loopVelcro 26 is then adhered to the rocker bottom 33, at the same centerdistance as the two arms 8 and 9. When the hook Velcro 25 comes incontact with the loop Velcro 26, they do adhere together, thus helpingpreventing the rocker bottom 33 from sliding or moving on top of the twoarms 8 and 9.

FIG. 8A, shows an isometric view of the baby carrier rocker assemblywith a typical bassinet adaptor frame 35 attached to it. This bassinetadaptor frame 35, is flat and has an end stop 44 on top either at oneend or at both ends of it. This end stop 44 is to prevent the bassinet34 from sliding forward while rocking.

This bassinet adaptor frame 35 will support the bottom of a typicalbassinet 34. This bassinet adaptor frame 35 fits in-between and issupported by the four arms 8 and 9. The strap 13 is fixed to the strapslot 50 on both sides of the rocker plate 27. It passes underneath thebassinet adaptor frame 35, then upwards around the top of the bassinet34. Then the cam buckle 28 connects both ends of the straps 13 firmlytogether. Any other type of connection could also be used here. Bypulling the strap 13 tight, the bassinet 34 will be pressed downwardsonto the top of the bassinet adaptor frame 35, and this frame 35 willthen be pressed down tightly on to the top surface of the rubber grippads 10 on each of the arms 8 and 9, thus rigidly fastening the bassinet35 to the baby seat rocker. The end plate 44 is used to help prevent thebassinet 34 to slip or slide forward due to the rocking motion of thebaby seat rocker.

FIG. 8B, shows the side view of FIG. 8A, but with the bassinet 34 in itsproper position. You can see how the end plate 44 is preventing theforward movement of the bassinet 34. A second end plate 44 could also beincorporated into this design on the opposite end of the bassinetadaptor frame 35 as shown. Shown is an adjustable end plate 44 in whichcan extend, lock and retract to best suite the overall length of thebassinet 34. This type of adjustable end plate could also be used in thefront as well.

FIG. 8C, shows an isometric view of FIG. 8B.

FIG. 9A, shows the top and side view of another method of afoldable/collapsible bassinet adaptor frame. Here shown is where a frontfold frame 36 and a rear fold frame 37 are attached and hinged togetherwith hinge 40 as show in the open position. The hinge 40 is attached tothe bottom of the two fold frames 36 and 37. So when the baby seatcarrier 15 is fasten to the top of these frames 36 and 37, the hinge 40will not be able to fold, thus locked in this open position. Anotherversion for this bassinet adaptor frame is to be made out of at leasttwo pieces, and to be attached by other standard practice methods.

FIG. 9B, shows an isometric view of FIG. 9A being folded/collapse forless space and easy transport and storage.

FIG. 9C, shows an isometric view of another possible version of afoldable bassinet adaptor frame. Here shown are two side bars 39, withpivoting links 38 in between them. When the links 38 are all in line andperpendicular to the side bars 39, then this frame will be in its openposition. When all the links 38 are parallel with the two side bars 39,then this frame will be in its closed position.

Please note that here only two different methods of folding thisbassinet frame are shown. Many other folding methods could be used, butthe concept of a folding/collapsing bassinet frame for easy transportand storage, remains the same.

While the present invention has been described with reference to theabove described preferred embodiments and alternate embodiments, itshould be noted that various other embodiments and modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, theembodiments described herein and the drawings appended hereto are merelyillustrative of the features of the invention and should not beconstrued to be the only variants thereof nor limited thereto.

1-8. (canceled)
 9. A portable and collapsible baby car seat and babycarrier rocker comprising: a. of four retractable legs, in which can beextended outwards to lift the rocker if the ground and to increase therocker stability, and these legs could fold inside bottom of the frame,thus preventing any need for further securing these legs in thisposition; b. of these legs being able to be pivoted and locked outwards,forwards, and 90 degrees from the rocking motion direction from theframe for increased stability and greater sideways support without theneed of any tools or the removal of any parts; c. of four pivoting andfolding arms in which can be extended and locked outwards 90 degreesfrom the rocker plate, and supports the bottom of different size andstyles of baby car seat carriers, bassinets and baby carriers; d. offour support arms in which pivots around the arm pins without the use oftools and folds and locks inside of the rocker plate for transport; e.of four support arms in which it's ends are sloped to better match thebottom curve profile of a typical baby carrier, thus increasing thesurface contact between the sloped bottom surface and baby carrier; f.of support arms in which could have non slip rubber or hook and loopgrip pads on its sloped end surfaces in order to help prevent therocking item from sliding off of these arms, hook and loop should alsobe attached to the bottom surface of the item being rocked foradditional grip; g. of the support arms having sides on their outer edgein order to limit the sideways movement of the item being rocked actingas a positive stop; h. of a clamp block in which is lifted to physicallylock and to act as a wedge in between the two opposite support arms inboth the extended and retracted position without the use of tools.
 10. Ababy rocker comprising of a. a rocker plate in which pivots around itscenter and supports the four support arms; b. a rocker plate in whichpivots, and rocks around the center of gravity of the object beingrocked, thus reducing the power requirements of the motor and batteryconsumption; c. a rocking plate in which is connected by a motor andyoke near one end in which lifts and lower this rocker plate, thusrocking it back and forth; d. an electric motor in which is variablespeed and can be stopped and started from any angle or position with inits rocking range that positively drives the rocker plate in both the upand downwards position by a yoke towards one end of the rocking plate;e. an electric motor in which will maintain a constant positive rockingspeed regardless of any allowable rocking weight changes or withblankets added and which will stop turning if it stalls, or if therocker should tilt or flip over; f. an adjustable quick release safetystrap connected to each side of the rocker plate, and follows the samepath of a typical car-seat seat-belt, and is also used for attaching ababy bassinet, and a front and back adjustable strap could be attachedto the rocker plate in this same way although not shown here, this strapcould be attached by a buckle, by hook and loop, or by any other commonattachment method.
 11. A baby rocker comprising of: a. a low profileframe in which maintains a low center of gravity of the item beingrocked, as low to the ground as possible, thus increasing the rockingitem stability and the baby safety; d. having the capability of stoppingand locking the rocking motion at any position with in its rockingrange, thus allowing different fixed seat angles to better facilitatefeeding, sleeping the baby, and for playing etc.; e. a bassinet adapterframe in which attaches on top of the rocker plate support arms in itsopen position in which a baby bassinet, or any other type of babycarrier, stability and the baby safety; f. the same strap as in claim 10attaching over the baby bassinet securing it to the bassinet adapterframe and to the four rocker support arms; g. a bassinet adapter framewith fixed end plates on both opposite ends, to help stop the bassinetfrom sliding forward or backwards during rocking, or yet another methodis adjustable end plates in which are lockable, and could be extended orretracted in the forward and rear rocking position as required; h. abassinet adapter frame that is hinged and can be folded onto itself foreasy transport and storage, or another method of folding a bassinetadaptor frame is by having pivoting links in which folds into its self.